Graves' Disease is a type of autoimmune disease in which the immune
system over stimulates the thyroid gland, causing hyperthyroidism.
Over-activity of the thyroid gland is also sometimes called "diffuse toxic
goiter." The thyroid gland helps set the rate of metabolism (the rate at
which the body uses energy), and when it is over-stimulated, it produces
more thyroid hormones than the body needs. High levels of thyroid hormones
can cause difficult side effects. This is an extremely rare disease that
tends to affect women over the age of 20. The incidence is about 5 in
10,000 people.

An autoimmune disease occurs when the body's immune system becomes
misdirected and attacks the very organs, cells, or tissues that it was
designed to protect. About 75% of autoimmune diseases occur in women, most
frequently during their childbearing years.

The most common symptoms of Grave’s Disease, or thyroid
over-stimulation include insomnia, irritability, weight loss without
dieting, heat sensitivity, increased perspiration, fine or brittle hair,
muscular weakness, eye changes, lighter menstrual flow, rapid heart beat,
and hand tremors. Grave’s Disease is the only kind of hyperthyroidism that
is associated with inflammation of the eyes, swelling of the tissue around
the eyes, and protrusion, or bulging, of the eyes. Some patients will
develop lumpy reddish thickening of the skin in front of the shins called
pretibial myxedema. This skin condition is usually painless. The symptoms
of this disease can occur gradually or very suddenly and are sometimes
confused with other medical problems. Women can have Grave’s Disease and
have no obvious symptoms at all.

The only way to positively know if you have Graves' Disease is to visit
your doctor. Your doctor will perform a simple blood test that will be
able to tell if your body has the correct amount of thyroid hormones.

Medications: There are some prescription medications that
can lower the amount of thyroid hormones produced by the body,
regulating them to normal levels.

Surgery: Part or all of the thyroid gland will be removed.
In most cases, people who have surgery for Graves' Disease will develop
an under-active thyroid (hypothyroidism),
and will have to take thyroid replacement hormones for the rest of their
lives.

Radioactive iodine: The iodine damages thyroid cells to
shrink the thyroid gland, to reduce hormone levels. Like surgery, this
condition usually leads to hypothyroidism, requiring medication for the
rest of the patient's life.

After a diagnosis is made and a treatment is selected, you should
return to your health care provider annually to make sure that your
thyroid levels are normal and do not need to be adjusted.

If left untreated, Grave's Disease can lead to more serious
complications, including birth defects in pregnancy, increased risk of a
miscarriage, and in extreme cases, death. Graves’ Disease is often
accompanied by an increase in heart rate, which may lead to further heart
complications.

For More Information . . .

You can find out more information about Graves' Disease by contacting
the National Women's Health Information Center (800-994-9662) or the
following organizations:

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Office on Women's Health in the Department of Health and Human Services;
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